The Beetle Cabriolet retains the classic Beetle shape while enhancing the iconic design with an elongated, sweeping soft-top hood giving the model a wider appearance and a flatter roof and a more dynamic and sporty appearance.

The head turner during my drive was of course the soft-top, fully automatic hood, which can be closed in just 9.5 seconds, with minimal noise, even while the vehicle is moving at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

It was certainly a fun, comfortable and yet a dynamic drive and I enjoyed the classic Fender sound system during school runs as the car comes with 400 watts of pure power, a digital 10-channel amplifier, nine speakers and a subwoofer to produce the exclusive Fender sound.

There was ample space, with the four-seater model offering a boot capacity of an impressive 225 liters. The Cabriolet is available in three trim levels – SE, SEL, and ‘Exclusive’.

I took the car to some car enthusiast friends and they all took their phones out to capture the stylish exterior trims including air intake grills, door handles and protective side trim – the red model I drove was eye catching and a car photographers delight.

The SEL trim level is available with an impressive range of additional features including keyless entry, “Vienna” leather sports seats front, navigation system with Discover Media and striking 19-inch “Tornado” alloy wheels.

The next trim level, aptly named ‘Exclusive’, features stylish interior details including “Beetle Exclusive” leather for the driver and front passenger sports seats, a leather seat mid-section and sides; and carpet floor mats with colourful edging in both the front and rear. The “Exclusive” trim also features scuff plates in door apertures and is equipped with 20-inch “Monterey” alloy wheels.

According to Thomas Milz, Managing Director Volkswagen Middle East, the Beetle Cabriolet is an affordable and sporty convertible and, with a 2.0 liter TSI engine, the new model can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds making it the most powerful Beetle Cabriolet ever.”

The Beetle Cabriolet is available in bright new colours, including “Habanero Orange”, and “Blue Silk”. The soft-tops will be available in two colours – Nutria Beige and Black Canvas. My teenager has already put this car on her wish list for graduation.

Flowing lines and flawless engineering. McLaren’s bespoke technology and production facilities are unique and within their beautifully detailed state-of-the-art buildings is a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and inspires everyone working under the McLaren banner.

As a young company only over six years since formed, McLaren Automotive has announced details of its Track22 Business Plan, taking it through the next six years through to 2022. Keeping the spotlight on the development of the world best drivers’ cars, McLaren Automotive will continue to focus purely on the development of two-seater sports and supercars.
The brand has committed that its industry-leading 20-25 percent of turnover will be invested in Research and Development for future products and technology. Over the six-year Business Plan period, this represents an investment of $1.4 million and will lead to the launch of 15 allnew cars.The launch
The new 570GT launch represents the culmination of new model introductions for 2016. McLaren also confirmed the addition of a Spider derivative within its Sports Series family in 2017. Following the positive reception of the 675LT Coupé and Spider models, McLaren has also announced that ‘LT’ will become a track-focused sub-brand with further models in the future. With the global success of the petrol-electric hybrid-powered McLaren P1TM, McLaren Automotive has confirmed that at least 50 percent of its cars will feature hybrid technology by the end of the Business Plan period.The future is here
The innovative research engineers at the McLaren Technology Centre are also in the early prototype stages of the development of a fullyelectric powertrain to evaluate its possible use in a future generation of an Ultimate Series car.

When Geely Auto asked me to drive the flagship Emgrand GT, the luxurious four-door ‘fastback’ sedan, I jumped at the opportunity given that I loved the sporty profile of the model.

Via an exclusive dealership arrangement with Union Motors, a division of UAE-headquartered MAN Investments, the Emgrand GT breaks the mould in terms of Chinese car design, and it is the first domestic vehicle to win The 2016 China Car of the Year, presented during the 2015 Guangzhou Auto Show.

The vehicle, designed by industry veteran Peter Horbury, evokes Geely’s new design language, a blend of modern Chinese design and state-of-the-art technology from Volvo. Horbury previously worked with Ford and Volvo before moving to Geely as design vice president.

With a dynamic, muscular stance, the Emgrand GT is the first result of Geely’s new design language, spearheaded by Horbury, who brings a ‘global yet local’ ethos to the privately-owned marque’s flagship vehicle.

The sleek, sporty lines of the Emgrand GT’s chassis sit atop 18 inch alloy wheels with Michelin tyres as standard. Stylish LED lights were developed in partnership with French automotive supplier Valeo, providing extreme reliability, low energy use and a long lifespan. As owner of Swedish auto giant Volvo, Geely has incorporated the Nordic marque’s obsession with safety into the Emgrand GT.

The Emgrand GT’s exterior may well be dramatic and powerful, but the interior provides a relaxed, calm, luxurious cabin environment. The lines on the instrument panel and doors follow the sweeping lines of ancient Chinese bridges, with traditional Chinese architecture also featured on the speaker covers, another subtle nod towards Geely’s Chinese roots.

The Emgrand GT is packed with state-of-the-art technology as standard, including cruise control, rear parking camera, parking radar and Geely’s multimedia system that allows for drivers and passengers to access content such as radio, videos or use the system to control phone calls safely. Eight speakers make for a cinematic listening experience.

A rear camera makes parking a breeze, and a panoramic sun roof adds an even more spacious feeling to the already capacious interior. In a deal with Apple, future Geely models will further enhance the driving experience by bringing all of Apple’s leading services directly into the centre of all future vehicle consoles in a format familiar to all iPad and iPhone users.

The introduction of Apple’s CarPlay system will allow Geely owners to interact directly with Apple’s Siri, the intelligent personal assistant, to find places of interest in their locality or destination and allow access to favourite Apple apps.

Geely is also working towards vehicles with zero emissions, hybrid and electric vehicles. Under the name ‘Blue Geely’, it plans to replace its entire line up with environmentally sound vehicles by 2020.

The best track experiences I had in 2016 were with Radical racing but the most fun had to be with the LoadMe Team one weekend at the Dubai Autodrome. It was a fun filled afternoon and even my teenager emerged from the Autodrome smiling from the experience. Below you will find out more about LoadMe and their partnership with Savarin Racing team.

1 THE UBER FOR TRUCKS

LoadMe is – in a nutshell type of analogy – the Uber for trucks. It is cloud-based platform that matches transporters with load owners and optimizes the chances of stakeholders to increase and better predict their revenue streams across the entire MENA region.

2 FROM TRUCKS TO TRACKS

What is the connection between the world of slow transportation trucks and fast racing cars? LoadMe wants to bring the speed from the racing universe to the freight industry of the Middle East through its realtime cloud-based model. This is why the tech startup partnered with the Savarin Racing Team in 2015 that competed in the Radical Middle East Cup at the Dubai Autodrome.

Due to the incredible results obtained by Catalin Voicu and because of the audience that is interested in discovering the changes that are happening in the transportation industry of the MENA region, LoadMe will continue to financially support and promote through its communication channels Catalin’s participation in the 2016 competition.

Sebastian Stefan:

LoadMe is a challenger in the traditional transportation industry and it is changing the way processes works, stakeholders connect and companies optimize their revenue streams across the entire MENA region.

This is why LoadMe is supporting a great challengers such as Catalin, a pilot who has challenged the best racers in Dubai and became the Best Novice Driver from his debut year in 2015.

Catalin Voicu:

Me and the team at LoadMe do not share only the will to become champions but we also share the purpose to bring a better type speed to trucks and tracks, as well. I constantly analyze my results as a driver and the performance of my car and I continuously optimize, from one race to the next. This is what LoadMe is doing for each transport in the Middle East, making sure that each time, the transporters are not only moving faster but more efficiently.

3 THE ESSENCE OF TIME

In this context, LoadMe recently released a short video titled The Essence of Time that brought its director – Bogdan Zoicas – the award at the Monthly Film Festival in Dubai in July.

Living in Dubai, and more specifically in the heart of Dubai spoils you. What is even better than living near the best area in the country is to stay in a hotel and really explore the neighbourhood as a tourist would. So my weekend at the chilled out Manzil Hotel with the QX50 thrown in to explore my neighbourhood at leisure and a Spa at the Armani was truly a memorable experience.

After settling in to the hotel, I took the QX50 for a customary Emaar Boulevard spin. From an exterior design perspective the QX50 LWB has been enhanced with a new front and rear bumper and lower front and rear fascia, new LED Daytime Running Lights, new signature Infiniti-style double-arch front grille, new side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals and updated side sill styling.

Significant inroads have also been made on its size. The wheelbase increases overall length is boosted. The result is an increased interior volume as well as increased 2nd row rear legroom.

The QX50 LWB also features a host of technological advancements that include; Streaming Audio via Bluetooth® wireless technology, Advanced Around View® Monitor (AVM) which includes front and rear sonar, 7-inch colour display with Infiniti Controller.

Also available is the optional Infiniti Hard Drive navigation System with a colour touch-screen display that is additionally complimented with the Bose Premium Audio System.

I liked the car for its agility and composed ride and for the safety features such as blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and full speed-range adaptive cruise control with forward-collision warning.

Main elements that helped Infiniti make a mark in the competitive luxury crossover segment is definitely the facelift, the longer wheelbase and the extra interior room.

Driving the Bentley GT V8 with the contemporary design updates and new exquisite features is a delight. Especially attractive is the model’s uncompromised luxury, performance and ultimate comfort that made the drives on Dubai’s Beach Road and the Emaar Boulevard much more interesting.

The Bentley Continental GT is refreshed with a complement of new exterior design features, aimed at sharpening the on-road presence of the iconic Grand Tourer. A revised front bumper has been introduced with a new vent, complete with a graceful metallic “B” adornment, which serves to emphasise and enhance the renowned Bentley “power line” that flows rearwards from the front arches.

The revisions to the exterior aesthetic are completed with the addition of new wheels. Enhancing the GT’s iconic silhouette further, three new paint colours are available: Marlin (a rich metallic blue), Camel (a soft golden tone) and Jetstream (a light, bright metallic blue).

The visual upgrades continue inside the luxury cabin of the Continental range. A new and contemporary straight-fluting pattern adorns the four generous seats. Driver controls are all-new, with an optional, more ergonomic and sports-orientated steering wheel and larger gear-shift paddles.

The driver’s instrument panel receives new dials and graphics for a refreshed, more contemporary look, and the beauty of the new interior is now illuminated by LEDs. A new hidden storage compartment is fitted between the rear seats, capable of accommodating and charging electronic devices including iPads. On-board WiFi, providing connectivity to all handheld devices in the car is also now available across the Continental family.

The car has ample space in the back to fit a teenager with her school bags, guitar, gym bag and all the paraphernalia teenagers seem to carry to school these days for their extra curricular activities. The car fits in with the needs of a speed junkie, an executive out to impress a new client and for a small one or two child family with parents who like to do school runs in style.

For me, the biggest draw was how perfect the car was as it took me from the door of the Armani Hotel, to the Royal Palace and still allowed me to enjoy the thrill of high speed in the desert highway in between retail therapy, school runs and interviews with people who can afford a Bentley and realised how cool the car would be for their next indulgent purchase.

The new-generation Audi A4 is a fascinating synthesis of technology and esthetics. The redeveloped technology defines the benchmark in the segment with an abundance of intelligent technologies, the use of which is even more intuitive with the new Audi MMI display and control concept.

The technological highlights of the new A4 include the Audi virtual cockpit, the Audi Matrix LED headlights, the Audi smartphone interface, the Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 3D sound, the Audi phone box with wireless charging, the head-up display and new driver assistance systems like the parking assist, rear cross-traffic assist, exit warning, collision avoidance assist, turn assist and the Audi pre-sense systems.

It may sound like there are too many technological advancements but it does not end there. Another function is the Audi smartphone interface – it brings Apple Car Play and Android Auto on board. When the customer plugs an iOS or Android smartphone into the USB port, smartphone contents such as navigation, telephone, music and selected third-party apps can be accessed in a separate MMI menu.

It is however not just the technology that impresses you in the A4. Driver assistance systems and infotainment are of luxury quality but the aerodynamics in the A4 Sedan also has the best drag coefficient in its class at 0.23. The new models also have impressively low CO2 emissions.

The most powerful engine for the Middle East will be a four-cylinder unit with 252 hp, S-tronic and quattro wheel drive. A new generation of four-cylinder TFSI engines with newly developed combustion methods sets benchmarks in terms of fuel consumption, emissions and performance for four-cylinder gasoline engines.

Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive is the ultimate in terms of dynamics, traction, safety and straight-line reliability. It is a purely mechanical system and therefore operates without any delay.

Strong driving dynamics are an important feature of the Audi A4 with sporty driving pleasure and comfort being key factors. An A4 is designed to be fun to drive on winding roads as well as being an ideal automobile with its excellent ride comfort for long distances.

More powerful, more efficient and more intelligent, the new Audi A4 features numerous premium technologies, which set higher benchmarks for its class. Audi drivers can look forward to a truly high-tech experience.

Dubai offers a perfect location for both International and regional launches of premium car brands and the latest luxury car unveiled in Dubai was the DB11 was in the Aston Martin Dubai Showroom.

Middle East Regional Director at Aston Martin, Neil Slade, revealed the DB11 to motoring enthusiasts who had an opportunity to experience the look and feel of the new model. The fresh features The key feature of the DB11 is the fresh and distinctive design language, which Aston martin excels in for all their models. The DB11 features pioneering aerodynamics and is powered by a potent new in-house designed 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine.

Built upon a new lighter, stronger, and more space efficient bonded aluminium structure, DB11 is the most powerful, most efficient and most dynamically gifted DB model in Aston Martin’s history.

According to Neil, the DB11 is the most important car Aston Martin has launched and it rightfully places Aston Martin as a true leading luxury brand in the automotive market.

The regional launch also included the display of the six launch specs of DB11 highlighting different exterior and interior features all unique to the DB11.

Volvo Cars are known for their safety standards and after testing a few models on the tracks a few years ago, it was a delight to get behind the wheels of the performance-oriented Volvo V60 Polestar.

The S60 and V60 Polestar cars are the result of nearly two decades of racing experience and know-how from exploring the limits of Volvo cars, combining everyday performance, safety, full optimum control among many other new features all in just one package.

Testing the V60 was a special experience as it brought back memories of the past driving Volvo in different environments. As Volvo, Polestar maintains the same level of safety technologies dedicated to its high-end racing engineering that ensures optimized control, stopping power, and responsiveness making both models the safest road cars to be driven in the world.

Reflecting the increased performance of the V60 Polestar, the positive aerodynamic effects have been achieved through subtle, yet efficient, modifications based on data from tests in the Volvo Cars wind tunnel. The interiors of the cars have been reworked with new details, materials and Polestar colours with the sole purpose of increasing driver support and control.

The six-cylinder 3.0 litre turbo-charged T6 engine has also undergone extensive development with a new twin-scroll turbo and intercooler to produce 350 HP at 5700 rpm and 500 Nm already at 3000 rpm.

The automatic gearbox of six-speed transmission features a new paddle shift system that together with the Polestar developed Haldex four-wheel drive system takes the car from 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds and to a limited top speed of 250 km/h.

The gearbox along with the 4WD system and traction control system has been recalibrated in order to provide an active driving experience and maximum grip in all situations but given the short test time of a few days, city driving proved a pleasant experience.
For this model, upgrades also include modifications made to increase rigidity of the chassis to cater for the 80% stiffer springs relative to the standard S60 R-Design. These changes combined with the tailored high performance Öhlins shock absorbers and 20” Polestar wheels results in a precise, yet comfortable, driving experience.

It is worth mentioning that Volvo Cars has acquired 100 per cent of Polestar, including the Polestar brand. Polestar will now be used as the model name for special high performance Volvos.

Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar are both available in four colours – blue, white, black and silver. Trading Enterprises – Volvo has announced exciting offers on some of its popular models including the V60 Polestars. The V60 Polestars are available from AED 209,900 and comes with complimentary one-year registration; 3 years service contract and 5 years warranty.

Customers can also experience a new Volvo and take advantage of 24-month buy-back guarantee available across all models.

Infiniti has once again impressed us with a comprehensively enhanced and versatile QX60 premium crossover, introducing a wide range of changes that improve the seven-seater’s exterior design and its driving dynamics.

Showcasing new features and technologies that improve comfort, convenience and safety, the 2016 QX60 reflects an evolution of Infiniti’s stand-out artistic design and accentuates its powerful elegance and craftsmanship.

This is a premium crossover that continues to defy segment expectations by providing flexible and accessible seating for up to seven, while at the same time delivering superior standards of comfort and luxury.

The exterior of the QX60 reflects Infiniti’s design-led approach to product development, and a desire to craft vehicle forms which combine power and confident artistry through taut, muscular shapes and flowing lines.

The look is unmistakably Infiniti, and the new QX60 features familiar signature brand design cues such as the dramatic double-arch front grille, double-wave bonnet, and crescent-cut D-pillar.

The QX60 will undoubtedly bolster the brands position in the premium crossover segment as the new model offers enhanced design, driving dynamics and best-in-class levels of interior comfort and convenience.

The model delivers a high level of assistive and intuitive technology features, aimed at enhancing the premium crossover experience for all passengers.

The 2016 QX60 also adds to its already strong suite of advanced safety technology with Forward Emergency Braking (FEB) with pedestrian detection – a first for Infiniti and the brand’s exclusive Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW) system.

The suspension components and settings in the 2016 QX60 delivers superior levels of both comfort and agility, while a revised steering system delivers greater feedback for a more rewarding drive. Featuring Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, the QX60 is offered with a powerful and efficient 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine.

Another attraction is that the brand provides a means of personalization that reflects Infiniti’s versatile and passenger-minded approach to the new QX60. We are looking forward to the QX60 experience in the region.